Spain to the fore
Lopetegui’s men beat Italy to close in on World Cup spot
MADRID: Spain ended Italy’s 11-year unbeaten run in qualifiers with a 3-0 win and moved closer to securing a World Cup spot.
The Italians hadn’t lost a qualifier – World Cup or European Championship – in 56 games, since September 2006.
Two first- half strikes by Isco and a late goal by substitute Alvaro Morata gave Julen Lopetegui’s men the important Group G victory.
Isco got the better of Italy goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon from a free-kick early in the game, then outsmarted the Italian defence with a low shot just before half- time at the Bernabeu.
The result left Spain in control of Group G with 19 points, three more than Italy, with three games left in European qualifying for the 2018 World Cup in Russia. Albania are third with 12 points.
Only the group winners automatically qualify.
Both Italy and Spain had won all their group matches apart from a 1-1 draw against each other in Turin.
Spain’s final qualifiers are at last- place Liechtenstein tomorrow, against third-placed Albania on Oct 6 and at Israel on Oct 9.
Italy’s remaining games are at Israel tomorrow, against Macedonia on Oct 6 and at Albania on Oct 9.
Spain’s last loss in World Cup qualifying was in November 1993. Their unbeaten run now stands at 60 matches.
Also on Saturday, Albania needed two second-half goals to beat last- placed Liechtenstein 2- 0 to stay within reach of the group leaders. Midfielder Odise Roshi and defender Ansi Agolli scored as Albania defeated Liechtenstein to move closer to second-place Italy.
The home victory gave Albania 12 points, four behind the Italians. Albania trail Spain by seven points.
Last- place Liechtenstein have lost all of their seven matches, being outscored 26-1.
Israel missed a chance to move within four points of Italy after a 1-0 home loss to Macedonia.
Macedonia, second-to-last in the group, got the winner with a goal by Goran Pandev midway through the second half. The veteran striker took his national record tally of international goals to 30.
Macedonia moved to six points, three fewer than Israel. — AP